Low oil

MikeyDawg · 11-22-2021, 07:40 AM

On a business trip today and got a low oil notification.

I think 10w 60 will be hard to find where I'm at to top it off.

What substitute should I use if I can't find it?

tbuck · 11-22-2021, 07:54 AM

Unless you have many miles to go before you get home you will be fine. You are not so low as you can't run the car.

If you do have a long way to go, you may search for NAPA auto parts in your area, as I have seen them carry in store a number of high quality brands such as Liqui Moly and may have at least a 5W50. If you are going to be in the same place for a number of days, Advance Auto can usually get just about anything next morning, and they also can get Liqui Moly and others that they don't stock in store.

And honestly, modern oil is oil is oil. A name brand is going to be good quality. You could likely put in a quart, or how ever much you need, of any higher viscosity quality synthetic oil and it will be just fine. 1 out of 9 is not going to hurt anything. GL

Idfkman · 11-22-2021, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeyDawg

On a business trip today and got a low oil notification.

I think 10w 60 will be hard to find where I'm at to top it off.

What substitute should I use if I can't find it?

Advance Auto Parts usually has Castrol 10w60 in stock near me. Same with O'Reilly. Autozone sometimes has Liquimoly 10w60 in stock.

I would call around to a few parts stores. There also may be a dealer (exotic car dealers included) or BMW specialist shop nearby with some 10w60 oil.

Some folks run 5w40 & 5w50 which may be available.

Scharbag · 11-22-2021, 08:48 AM

All API oils are compatible. It is part of the API rating requirements.

As stated above, any good synthetic will work to top up if needed. 5w50 is easy to find.

SilverSlug · 11-24-2021, 03:07 AM

O'Reilly has Castrol 10w60 as well.

Where are you, if you don't mind me asking, that you're so far away from any of the mainstream auto parts stores?

(So we can pack extra oil if we venture out that way

)

BimmerNugget · 11-25-2021, 10:21 PM

I believe the manual says 5w-40 is ok to use temporarily or in extremely cold climates? 5w-40 should be readily available at most autoparts stores or walmart.

DailyDrivenm3 · 01-12-2022, 11:36 PM

I ran into the same problem down south. The employees at autozone/advanced auto told me that there was no such thing as 10w-60. It was quite an experience.

kyippee · 01-13-2022, 01:42 AM

BMW dealership? Buy on Amazon with 1-day shipping option?

its55 · 01-13-2022, 05:19 AM

tdott · 01-13-2022, 07:59 AM

BMW or Audi dealer will have 10w60 for you if near by.

In an emergency, you can use pretty much any oil to top off, see above.

kyrix1st · 01-13-2022, 09:54 AM

shell, pennzoil, castrol, mobil1 all work fine for a top off.

Ab28 · 01-13-2022, 06:55 PM

Any oil will be fine for a top up.

5w30/40 is available at just about any gas station. 1 quart is not going to ruin anything. Trust me.

Some guys run a full pan of 5w40 in the winter.

TrackPit · 01-15-2022, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

O'Reilly has Castrol 10w60 as well.

Where are you, if you don't mind me asking, that you're so far away from any of the mainstream auto parts stores?

(So we can pack extra oil if we venture out that way

)

Yes, but how old is the Castrol.

That YouTuber Spencer went to one to get a bottle and it was like 3 year old bottle or something.

Scharbag · 01-16-2022, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrackPit

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverSlug

O'Reilly has Castrol 10w60 as well.

Where are you, if you don't mind me asking, that you're so far away from any of the mainstream auto parts stores?

(So we can pack extra oil if we venture out that way

)

Yes, but how old is the Castrol.

That YouTuber Spencer went to one to get a bottle and it was like 3 year old bottle or something.

Oil will never ever ever go bad in the bottle on the shelf.

TrackPit · 01-17-2022, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Oil will never ever ever go bad in the bottle on the shelf.

Yeah that's not right.

Scharbag · 01-17-2022, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrackPit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Oil will never ever ever go bad in the bottle on the shelf.

Yeah that's not right.

What's not right? Are you saying a bottle of oil will go bad on the shelf? How so?

TrackPit · 01-17-2022, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scharbag

What's not right? Are you saying a bottle of oil will go bad on the shelf? How so?

It has an expiration date.

I think it is something like 2-5 years.

Scharbag · 01-18-2022, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrackPit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scharbag

What's not right? Are you saying a bottle of oil will go bad on the shelf? How so?

It has an expiration date.

I think it is something like 2-5 years.

So says the oil company that wants to sell you more oil.

Oil in a bottle is under zero stress and there is nothing for it to react to. A day in an engine is more grueling than a decade on the shelf.

Co bullet · 01-18-2022, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scharbag

So says the oil company that wants to sell you more oil.

Oil in a bottle is under zero stress and there is nothing for it to react to. A day in an engine is more grueling than a decade on the shelf.

Also motivated by the possibility of lawsuits to not indefinently guarantee their oil.

aus · 01-20-2022, 01:49 AM

Walmart as 0W40 and 15W50 if you're just topping off.
I've changed my oil with a mix of the above for years and had good results with Blackstone after 7,500 miles.
.

tbuck · 01-20-2022, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scharbag

So says the oil company that wants to sell you more oil.

Oil in a bottle is under zero stress and there is nothing for it to react to. A day in an engine is more grueling than a decade on the shelf.

^This. Modern synthetic oil will last indefinitely on the shelf. There is simply nothing to degrade, certainly not inside a couple decades. It is all good.

So much freak-out over oil on this forum... Reminds me of the knock-down-drag-outs over on M3Forums in the past, really silly.

11-22-2021, 07:40 AM	#1
MikeyDawg Second Lieutenant 210 Rep 231 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 - MT Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: GA iTrader: (1)	Low oil - 10w 60 substitute? On a business trip today and got a low oil notification. I think 10w 60 will be hard to find where I'm at to top it off. What substitute should I use if I can't find it?
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11-22-2021, 07:54 AM	#2
tbuck Captain 1186 Rep 946 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3, 2016 F23 M235i Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Huntsville iTrader: (0)	Unless you have many miles to go before you get home you will be fine. You are not so low as you can't run the car. If you do have a long way to go, you may search for NAPA auto parts in your area, as I have seen them carry in store a number of high quality brands such as Liqui Moly and may have at least a 5W50. If you are going to be in the same place for a number of days, Advance Auto can usually get just about anything next morning, and they also can get Liqui Moly and others that they don't stock in store. And honestly, modern oil is oil is oil. A name brand is going to be good quality. You could likely put in a quart, or how ever much you need, of any higher viscosity quality synthetic oil and it will be just fine. 1 out of 9 is not going to hurt anything. GL __________________
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11-22-2021, 08:48 AM	#4
Scharbag Colonel 2621 Rep 2,138 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Victoria iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW E92 M3 [0.00]	All API oils are compatible. It is part of the API rating requirements. As stated above, any good synthetic will work to top up if needed. 5w50 is easy to find. __________________ 2011 E92 M3 - 6MT, ZCP, ZF LSD, ESS G1, Some other goodies...
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11-24-2021, 03:07 AM	#5
SilverSlug Hey, where have you been all my life? 680 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (2)	O'Reilly has Castrol 10w60 as well. Where are you, if you don't mind me asking, that you're so far away from any of the mainstream auto parts stores? (So we can pack extra oil if we venture out that way )
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11-25-2021, 10:21 PM	#6
BimmerNugget Crazy Frog 543 Rep 1,211 Posts Drives: L.L.Bean Bootmobile Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: 560 State Street iTrader: (0)	I believe the manual says 5w-40 is ok to use temporarily or in extremely cold climates? 5w-40 should be readily available at most autoparts stores or walmart. __________________ www.youtube.com/watch?v=k85mRPqvMbE
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01-12-2022, 11:36 PM	#7
DailyDrivenm3 Registered 6 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	I ran into the same problem down south. The employees at autozone/advanced auto told me that there was no such thing as 10w-60. It was quite an experience.
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01-13-2022, 01:42 AM	#8
kyippee Lieutenant Colonel 1073 Rep 1,617 Posts Drives: E92 M3, Supra MK5, F44 235GC Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	BMW dealership? Buy on Amazon with 1-day shipping option?
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01-13-2022, 05:19 AM	#9
its55 2008 BMW E92 M3 281 Rep 108 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Somewhere, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW 330i G20 [0.00] 2008 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 1997 BMW M3 [0.00] 1978 BMW 325is [0.00] 1992 BMW 325is M Te ... [0.00]	Last edited by its55; 01-13-2022 at 05:25 AM..
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01-13-2022, 07:59 AM	#10
tdott Brigadier General 3943 Rep 3,988 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South FL / 6ix iTrader: (4)	BMW or Audi dealer will have 10w60 for you if near by. In an emergency, you can use pretty much any oil to top off, see above. __________________ N/A S65 Headers Before/After Dyno Results
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01-13-2022, 09:54 AM	#11
kyrix1st Colonel 2362 Rep 2,362 Posts Drives: G87 M2; E92M3 MT&DCT; M3 euro Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: nyc iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 BMW Z4 [0.00]	shell, pennzoil, castrol, mobil1 all work fine for a top off. __________________ Pass me if you can.
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01-13-2022, 06:55 PM	#12
Ab28 Captain 593 Rep 726 Posts Drives: E90 M3/E39 M5/128i Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: . iTrader: (3)	Any oil will be fine for a top up. 5w30/40 is available at just about any gas station. 1 quart is not going to ruin anything. Trust me. Some guys run a full pan of 5w40 in the winter.
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01-20-2022, 01:49 AM	#20
aus Major General 892 Rep 9,032 Posts Drives: Odysse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	Walmart as 0W40 and 15W50 if you're just topping off. I've changed my oil with a mix of the above for years and had good results with Blackstone after 7,500 miles. . __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."
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